Harper College offers tuition aid to unemployed

Palatine school is helping people who have been laid off start new careers

March 06, 2009|By Graydon Megan, SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

Harper College in Palatine is providing up to $150,000 in tuition assistance to northwest suburban residents who have lost their jobs -- or are facing layoffs -- and are looking to start new careers.

The tuition assistance can be used to pay the cost of any of Harper's certificate programs, including accounting, sales management and welding. The assistance also can be used for the college's Fast Track program, which offers associate's degrees in business, computer science, marketing and other fields.

The initiative is called Re/New You, a comprehensive program aimed at helping the unemployed in the northwest suburbs. The program is being done in partnership with the Illinois workNet Center in Arlington Heights.

"It's a joint effort," Nancy Wajler, a Harper official, said during a briefing this week for the Arlington Heights Village Board. "We're just trying to give people an opportunity."

The program is limited to residents of the college district, which includes suburbs served by Township High School Districts 211 and 214 and Barrington Community Unit 220.

Harper's funding will cover costs of the program through the end of June, officials said.

Beginning July 1, the Illinois workNet Center will provide vouchers to pay for approved programs at Harper under the federal Workforce Investment Act.

In addition to tuition assistance, Harper is offering financial advice, networking sessions and help with stress reduction under the Re/New You program. Visit harpercollege.edu, or call 847-437-9642.